REFERRAL TO SPECIALIZED GERIATRIC SERVICES - WHICH ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY ARE LIKELY TO BENEFIT

PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED As the Canadian population ages, family physic ians encounter increasing numbers of elderly people with medical, func tional, psychological, and social difficulties. In the past two decade s, most regions of Canada have developed systems of specialized geriat ric services, available on a consultative basis, to assist family phys icians evaluating and managing elderly patients with these difficultie s. For many family physicians, however, it is often unclear which of t heir elderly patients are likely to benefit from referral to these ger iatric services. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM Using an interdisciplinary appro ach, specialized geriatric services seek to optimize health, maximize function, promote independence, and prevent or delay institutionalizat ion of elderly people. Yet not all elderly people benefit from referra l to specialized geriatric services. This article offers a clear and c linically practical framework to help family physicians identify elder ly patients in their practices who are likely to benefit from referral to specialized geriatric services. MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM By synt hesizing previous work on the concept of fi ail elderly persons into a 2 x 2 matrix, the level and intensity of geriatric intervention most appropriate for different segments of the elderly population is clarif ied. CONCLUSIONS Using the simple approach described in this article, family physicians should be able to use available geriatric resources easily and efficiently to optimize the health and function of their el derly patients.